Active Directory Domain Services: Core Administration and Security

Managing user access and securing network resources is the backbone of modern enterprise IT. As organizations scale, understanding how to configure and maintain a centralized directory service becomes an essential skill for any system administrator. This text-only course guides you from foundational directory concepts to practical administration techniques. You will learn how to design a secure domain structure, manage users and groups, implement Group Policy, and bridge your on-premises environment with modern cloud identity solutions. What you'll learn: Understand foundational Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) concepts, architecture, and terminology; Deploy and configure domain controllers safely using modern best practices; Manage user accounts, groups, and organizational units to enforce the principle of least privilege; Implement Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to centralize system configuration and security settings; Configure hybrid identity structures by connecting on-premises directories with cloud-based identity providers; Monitor, troubleshoot, and back up your domain infrastructure to ensure high availability. You will start by mastering core concepts and terminology before progressing to step-by-step written walkthroughs for domain installation, configuration, and security hardening. This course is designed for aspiring system administrators, IT support specialists, and beginners looking to build a strong foundation in directory services, with no prior administration experience required. Start reading today to build and secure your first enterprise network environment.